Wearable Dock-Hub Assembly for Stable Cable-Free Biosignal Sensing
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current wearable devices for monitoring physiological parameters like cardiac activity and body temperature are often tethered by cables, limiting mobility and requiring invasive attachment methods, which can be uncomfortable and prone to interference.
Innovation Solution
A wearable device comprising a dock and hub configuration with conductive strips and electrodes that securely attach to the skin, allowing wireless monitoring of cardiac activity and temperature, featuring a removable hub with a thermally conductive probe for accurate temperature sensing and a battery for power, enabling untethered and comfortable physiological parameter monitoring.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If wearable devices use cables to connect monitoring components, then reliable electrical communication is achieved, but user mobility is limited and comfort is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The device is divided into two main segments: a disposable dock that remains attached to the patient's body with electrodes and circuitry, and a reusable hub that contains the battery and processing components. This segmentation allows the dock to maintain reliable electrical contact with the patient while the hub can be moved or removed as needed, resolving the contradiction between communication reliability and user mobility.
Solution Approach 2:
A cable connection serves as an intermediary between the dock and hub, allowing electrical communication to be established when needed (during charging or data transfer) while permitting the hub to be physically separated from the patient's body during normal monitoring, thus maintaining both reliability and mobility.
2Measurement precision
If invasive attachment methods are used to secure monitoring devices to skin, then stable signal acquisition is achieved, but patient comfort is reduced and interference increases
Solution Approach 1:
The dock is designed as a disposable component that is attached to the patient's body for a limited period (e.g., during a hospital stay or specific monitoring period). This allows the use of adhesive or light mechanical attachment methods that are sufficient for stable signal acquisition during the short-term use, without requiring invasive procedures. The disposable nature eliminates the need for complex, invasive attachment mechanisms while maintaining measurement precision during the monitoring period.
3Duration of action of moving object
If a permanent power source is integrated into the wearable device, then continuous operation is achieved, but device complexity and size increase
Solution Approach 1:
The power source (battery) is segregated into a separate reusable hub rather than being integrated into the disposable dock. This segmentation allows the dock to remain simple and lightweight for single-use monitoring, while the hub contains the power source and can be recharged and reused across multiple patients and monitoring sessions, reducing overall device complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The hub serves multiple functions: it houses the battery for power supply, contains the processing electronics, and can be connected to multiple different disposable docks. This multi-functionality consolidates complex components into a single reusable unit, reducing the overall system complexity while enabling continuous operation across multiple uses.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The device provides efficient, wireless monitoring of cardiac activity and body temperature without cables, enhancing user mobility and comfort while maintaining accurate data collection through secure attachment and efficient power management.
Implementation Method 1
a thermally conductive probe extending through said opening of the housing, the thermally conductive probe comprising a first end and a second end opposite the first end, the first end positioned adjacent the second surface of the circuit board and said at least one hole
Implementation Method 2
a plurality of electrodes for monitoring cardiac activity of the subject
Data Source
AI summary
A wearable device configured to measure physiological parameters of a subject is described. The wearable device can include a dock having a plurality of prongs, a dock circuit layer having a plurality of conductive strips positioned along the plurality of prongs, and a plurality of electrodes in electrical communication with the dock circuit layer. The wearable device can also include a hub configured to be removably secured to the dock, the hub having a housing with a plurality of openings, and a hub circuit layer arranged within the interior of the housing. When the hub and dock are secured to one another, the plurality of prongs of the frame extend towards the plurality of openings of the housing of the hub and cause the plurality of conductive strips to contact portions of the hub circuit layer to facilitate electrical communication between the plurality of electrodes and the hub circuit layer.